Ex-champ Norton dies

Former heavyweight champion Ken Norton, who beat Muhammad Ali (pictured and then lost a controversial decision to him in Yankee Stadium, died Wednesday at a local care facility in Las Vegas, his son said. He was 70. Norton had been in poor health for the last several years after suffering a series of strokes. Norton broke Ali’s jaw in their first bout, beating him by split decision in 1973 in a non-title fight in San Diego. They fought six months later, and Ali narrowly won a split decision. They met for a third time on Sept. 28, 1976, at Yankee Stadium and Ali narrowly won to keep his heavyweight title. Norton would come back the next year to win a heavyweight title eliminator and was declared champion by the WBC.Norton compiled a record of 42-7-1 and 33 knockouts. – AP

Published: Sept. 19, 2013, midnight

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